Lammy told one of the MPs to be ‘hopeful’ that a recognition will be achieved [GETTY]
British lawmakers have urged UK Foreign Minister David Lammy to say when his government will recognise a Palestinian state.
The minister faced repeated questions about when recognition would occur and what criteria would be used to make the decision.
Two Labour MPs, Paula Barker and Tahir Ali, highlighted concerns the party would not meet its pledge to recognise the state within the current parliament.
“A two-state solution is what was mentioned as well,” Ali said, noting the party’s manifesto committing to recognise a Palestinian state. “I do not believe this Government will recognise Palestine as a state in this parliament. Can the Secretary of State prove me wrong?” Ali asked.
Lammy told Ali to be “hopeful” that it will be achieved. Â
Barker asked whether the secretary would “ensure that we are not here in 25 years’ time debating a two-state solution because he is going to recognise the state of Palestine”.
Lammy, replying to Barker, said there is a “real dilemma in terms of Palestinian recognition”.
“There are some who want Palestinian recognition essentially because they believe that two states is years away, and it will never be achieved, and they want the UK to say ‘we’ll do it now, we’ll put the marker in the sand’, despite the fact that it’s years away and it can never be achieved.”
“And there are others who recognise the important role of the UK in relation to its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and therefore understand that we will do that, but we will do it when we know it’s going to happen and it’s in sight. This is one of those critical moments, one of those critical moments, and believe me, I will play my part.”
The minister said he could not provide details as recognition would also involve Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the US and other countries in the Middle East.
Lammy also said the UK government does not believe in Israel’s occupation and settlements in the West Bank.
“We cannot tolerate the expansion, we recommit ourselves to continuing to work with civil society on the ground, in the West Bank, in the occupied territory who are documenting these things,” Lammy said.
Most countries in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and Asia recognise Palestine as a state, however, the US, Canada, most of Western Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea do not.
Norway, Spain and Ireland are among the latest countries to recognise a Palestinian state.
